Multiple circuit breaker assembly



Nov. 24, 1964 H. A. NADEAU 3,158,701

MULTIPLE CIRCUIT BREAKER ASSEMBLY Filed July 51, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTOR. HERMAN A A Tron v 'Nov. 24, 1964 H. A. NADEAU MULTIPLE CIRCUIT BREAKER ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 51, 1962 F l G. 9

INVENTOR. #:RMAN A. NA DE'AU R M 9* C3 7 FIG.'7'

A T TORNE Y United States Patent July st, rs. set. N0. zisgrsa 2 Claims. (ICE. Edd-m The present invention relates to multiple circuit breaker assemblies, and more particularly to an assembly of circuit breakers including means ,for operating selected pairs of said circuit breakers simultaneously.

Electric circuit breakers of the type adapted for use in the control of branch lighting and power circuits of relatively small capacity, such for example as 15 to 50 amperes, according to the prior art, in one particular form, comprise unitary assemblies or dual circuit breakers, each such dual circuit breaker comprising a pair of side-by-side single circuit controlling devices. Each dual circuit breaker has a separate manually operable handle for each single pole breaker, a common line or power terminal at one end, and a separate load terminal for each such single pole breaker at the other end. Such a dual circuit breaker is shown, for example, in Patent No. 2,992,004, N. L. Miller et al., issued January 19, 1960, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly comprising at least two dual circuit breakers in side-by-side relation, together with means for operating the handles of the single pole members thereof in selected pairs simultaneously, including means for operating handles of two of said single pole breakers which are not adjacent to each other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such an assembly including handle operating means which shall permit trip-indicating movement of each of the pairs of operating handles independently 01f the other pair.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a multiple circuit breaker assembly incorponati-ng handle-tie means in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a circuit breaker assembly, such as shown in FIGURE 1, in a panel assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of the panel assembly of FIGURE 2;

FIGURES 4-7 are top plan views of the circuit breaker assembly of FIGURE 1, with the handles shown in various operated positions;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of the circuit breaker handles and handle-tying means; and

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation view of the circuit breaker assembly 01f FIGURE 1.

In the drawings, the invention is shown in FIGURE 1 as embodied in a multiple circuit breaker assembly comprising a pair of dual circuit breakers It) and 11. The dual circuit breakers 10 and 11 are held in side-by-side assembled relation by a plurality of elongated rivets or bolts 12.

The dual circuit breaker 10 includes a pair of individual circuit breaker units 10A and 16 3 (see FIGURE 3) having operating handles 13 and 14 respectively (see FIGURE 2). The dual circuit breaker 11 includes a pair of individual circuit breaker units 11A and 1113, having operating handles 15 and 16 respectively. The dual circuit breaker lit includes an opening 17 in one end corner of its casing to admit a plug-in type line terminal, in a manner to be described. The dual circuit breaker l1 likewise includes an opening 18 in an end corner thereof to admit a plug-in type line terminal member.

In FIGURE 2, the circuit breaker assembly of FIG- Ice URE 1 is shown, together with two additional dual circuit breakers 4h, 41, in assembled relation with respect to power bus bars 20 and 21 carrying a plurality of line contact members 20A, 21A, respectively. One contact member 20A, as shown, enters the opening 1'7 of the dual circuit breaker 1.9, and energizes both the circuit breaker units MA and NB. Likewise, the contact line terminal 21A enters the opening 18 of the dual circuit breaker 11 and energizes the circuit breaker units 11A and 11B. See FIGURE 3. The circuit breaker units 10A, 1013, 11A, 11B, are each provided with separate load terminals llhC, ltlD, 11C, 11D, respectively.

For the purpose of facilitating the operation of the handles of the individual circuit breaker units simultaneously in selected pairs, the assembly also includes handle tying means including an inner-pair handle tie 24 and an outer-p air handle tie 25.

The construction and assembly of the handle ties 24 and 25 will be best understood by reference to FIGURE 8. As shown in this figure, each of the handle members 13, 14, l5, 15 is provided with a groove 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, respectively. The inner handle tie member 24 comprises a fiat base portion 2 4A, and a pair of upwardly bent side portions 243. The handle tie member 24 is assembled in the position shown in FIGURE 1 at the time when the two dual circuit breakers lit and 11 are assembled together so that a portion of the base 24A extends into the groove 14A of the handle 14 and partly into the groove 115A of the handle 15. When the breakers it) and ll are assembled in relation shown in FIG- URE I, it will be observed that the handle tie member 24 is trapped in place with no other fastening means required.

The outer handle tie member 25 is constructed of flat sheet metal material and comprises a generally U-shaped planar base portion 25A, having an upwardly bent lip 25B along the bight portion of the U, and a pair of upwardly bent lip portions 25C adjacent each of the ends of the U. The base portion 25A also has corner portions 25D cut away adjacent the ends of the U. The outer handle tie member 25 is also assembled at the time when the two dual circuit breakers l0 and 11 are assembled together, being placed in a position such that parts of the base portion 25A adjacent the cut away corners 25D extend into the grooves 13A and 15A of the handles 13 and 16, respectively. It will be observed that the outer handle tie member 25 is also trapped in place when the circuit breakers It and 11 are in assembled relation.

The circuit breaker assembly of the present invention is shown in a typical application in FIGURES 2 and 3. In such an application, the bus bars 24) and 21 are eachapproximately volts above ground or neutral potential, and there is approximately 220 volts difference between them (see FIGURE 3 Circuits, such as C, D, E, and F 01f FIGURE 3 which require only 110 volts, may therefore be supplied each by one unit of dual circuit breakers 4t), 41 such as circuit breakers 31, 32, 33, 34, respectively.

Circuits such as A and B, however, which require 220 volts, must be connected between the bus bars Hand 21, rather than between one of the bus bars and ground. The circuit A is therefore connected between the terminal MD of the circuit breaker MB and the terminal 11C of the circuit breaker 11A. The load B is similarly connected etween the terminal MU of the circuit breaker MA and the terminal MD of the circuit breaker 113.

For safety reasons, it is required that the circuit breakers MB and MA which supply the lead A be operated simultaneously, and that the circuit breakers 10A and 1113 which supply the load B also be operated simultaneously. it is furthermore required that the handles of the circuit breakers 16B and MA shall be capable o'fisimultancous area,

operation to on oil, and an intermediate tripped position irrespective of the position of the handle members 10A and 11B, and vice versa.

By reference to FEGURES 4 through 7, it will be observed that the assembly provided in accordance with the present invention including the handle tie members and 25 permits this type of operation. Thus in FIGURE 4, all of the handles of the circuit breaker units are in the oil position. in FIGURE 5 all circuit breaker units are in the on position. in FIGURES 6, the breaker handles l4- and are in the on position while the breaker handles 13 and 16 are in the oil position. In FIGURE 7, the handles 13 and lid are in the on position and the handles 14 and 15 are in the off position. it will also be observed that the handles 13 and i6 and 14 and 15 are free to move in these pairs to an intermediate trip indicating position, not shown.

It is an important aspect of the invention that, as shown in FIGURE 9, the handle tying means provided in accordance with the present invention does not extend above the upper ends of the circuit breaker handles which are tied together. This is permitted by reason of the fact that the outer handle tie extends around the inner handle tie 24 in a direction generally parallel to the direction of movement of the handles and substantially at right angles to the direction in which the handles extend.

It will also be observed that the mounting of the handle tie member as provided in accordance with the present invention assures that the member will remain in the orientation as shown, with respect to the circuit breaker assembly, that is, with the bight portion of the U to one side of the line between the connected handles and with the major flat surfaces of the handle tie generally parallel to the plane of the top wall of the breakers. This prevents the handle tie from falling to a position where it would interfere with the panel enclosure cover or with the panel trim plate.

By means of this construction, the handle-tying means of the present invention does not increase the over-all height of the circuit breaker assembly. The multiple breaker assembly of the present invention can therefore be used in enclosures of the same dimensions as re uired for such dual circuit breakers when used separately.

It will be observed, that by means of the invention, it is possible to utilize two dual-type circuit breakers to provide two two-pole circuit breakers. It will also be observed that such an assembly has been provided without requiring any substantial modification of the prior art dual-type circuit breakers.

While the invention has been shown in one particular embodiment, it will be readily apparent that many modifications thereof may be made, and I therefore intend by the appended claims, to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A multiple circuit breaker assembly comprising:

(a) four circuit breakers in side-by-side alignment in a row, each of said circuit breakers having a top wall and a handle projecting therefrom, each of said handles having an on position and an oil position spaced apart a predetermined distance, all of said handles being in alignment when in said on and said oft positions respectively,

(b) means rigidly connecting said circuit breakers together in said side-by-side relation,

(c) the first and second circuit breakers in said row having a common line terminal and separate load terminals,

(d) the third and fourth circuit breakers in said row having a common line terminal and separate load terminals,

(e) a rigid handle tie bar interconnecting said handles i of said second and third circuit breakers for simultaneous operation,

(1) a generally U-shaped rigid handle tie member of sheet metal material interconnecting said handles of said first and fourth circuit breakers, said U-shapcd handle tie member having its bight portion extending parallel to and substantially coplanar with said first handle tie bar, the legs of said U-shaped handle tie member being of greater length than said predetermined distance between said on and off positions of said handle, to permit operation of said first and fourth circuit breaker handles to said on position while said second and third circuit breaker handles remain in said off position,

(3) each of said legs of said U- haped handle tie memher having a notch therein opening outwardly of said U-shaped handle tie member,

(It) said handles of said first and fourth circuit breakers having grooves therein receiving portions of said handle tie member and cooperating with said notches to retain said handle tie member in assembled relation on said handles when said circuit breakers are in said side-by-side relation.

2. An electric circuit breaker panel assembly comprismg:

(a) a first plug-in dual type circuit breaker including a pair of circuit breaker units in side-by-side relation, each having a top wall and an operating handle projecting therefrom,

(b) a second plug-in dual type circuit breaker having a pair of circuit breaker units in side-by-side relation, each having a top wall and an operating handle projecting therefrom, said operating handles of all of said circuit breakers having an on position and an oil position spaced apart a predetermined dis tance,

(0) each of said dual type circuit breakers including an insulating casing having an opening therein for receiving a contact stab in plug-in electrical engagement with both of said circuit breaker units thereof,

([1) means connecting said first and second dual type circuit breakers rigidly together in sideby-side relation with all of said handle members in alignment in a first direction in at least one position thereof, two of said circuit breaker units comprising an inner adjacent pair and the other two circuit breaker units comprising an outer non-adjacent pair,

(a) means interconnecting the operating handles of said inner pair of circuit breaker units for simultaneous operation, and

(f) a generally U-shaped rigid handle tie member of sheet metal material interconnecting said handles of said outer pair of circuit breaker units, said U-shaped handle tie member having its major planar surface parallel to said top walls of said circuit breakers, each of the legs of said Ushaped handle tie member being of greater length than said predetermined spacing of said on and off positions of said operating handles and having a notch therein opening outwardly of said U-shaped handle tie member,

(g) said handles of said outer pair of circuit breaker units each having grooves therein receiving portions of said handle tie member and cooperating with said notches to retain said handle tie member in assembled relation on said circuit breakers.

Square D Multibreakers, Catalog 37, Section 4000, June 1940, page 4011. 

1. A MULTIPLE CIRCUIT BREAKER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: (A) FOUR CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN SIDE-BY-SIDE ALIGNMENT IN A ROW, EACH OF SAID CIRCUIT BREAKERS HAVING A TOP WALL AND A HANDLE PROJECTING THEREFROM, EACH OF SAID HANDLES HAVING AN "ON" POSITION AND AN "OFF" POSITION SPACED APART A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE, ALL OF SAID HANDLES BEING IN ALIGNMENT WHEN IN SAID "ON" AND SAID "OFF" POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, (B) MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTING SAID CIRCUIT BREAKERS TOGETHER IN SAID SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, (C) THE FIRST AND SECOND CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN SAID ROW HAVING A COMMON LINE TERMINAL AND SEPARATE LOAD TERMINALS, (D) THE THIRD AND FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN SAID ROW HAVING A COMMON LINE TERMINAL AND SEPARATE LOAD TERMINALS, (E) A RIGID HANDLE TIE BAR INTERCONNECTING SAID HANDLES OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION, (F) A GENERALLY U-SHAPED RIGID HANDLE TIE MEMBER OF SHEET METAL MATERIAL INTERCONNECTING SAID HANDLES OF SAID FIRST AND FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKERS, SAID U-SHAPED HANDLE TIE MEMBER HAVING ITS BIGHT PORTION EXTENDING PARALLEL TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY CO-PLANAR WITH SAID FIRST HANDLE TIE BAR, THE LEGS OF SAID U-SHAPED HANDLE TIE MEMBER BEING OF GREATER LENGTH THAN SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID "ON" AND "OFF" POSITIONS OF SAID HANDLE, TO PERMIT OPERATION OF SAID FIRST AND FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLES TO SAID "ON" POSITION WHILE SAID SECOND AND THIRD CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLES REMAIN IN SAID "OFF" POSITION, (G) EACH OF SAID LEGS OF SAID U-SHAPED HANDLE TIE MEMBER HAVING A NOTCH THEREIN OPENING OUTWARDLY OF SAID U-SHAPED HANDLE TIE MEMBER, (H) SAID HANDLES OF SAID FIRST AND FOURTH CIRCUIT BREAKERS HAVING GROOVES THEREIN RECEIVING PORTIONS OF SAID HANDLE TIE MEMBER AND COOPERATING WITH SAID NOTCHES TO RETAIN SAID HANDLE TIE MEMBER IN ASSEMBLED RELATION ON SAID HANDLES WHEN SAID CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARE IN SAID SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION. 